UPDATE: Waymo has suspended its robotaxi service in San Francisco following a massive power outage that struck the city on October 14, 2023. The outage, affecting approximately 130,000 Pacific Gas & Electric customers, has caused significant disruptions, leaving Waymo’s autonomous vehicles stranded at intersections and contributing to traffic chaos across the area.
Footage circulating on social media shows multiple Waymo robotaxis halted in the middle of busy streets, with drivers struggling to navigate around them. One video posted on X captures at least five Waymo vehicles congesting an intersection, highlighting the immediate challenges faced by both human drivers and the self-driving fleet.
A spokesperson for Waymo confirmed the service suspension, stating, “Our teams are working diligently and in close coordination with city officials, and we are hopeful to bring our services back online soon.” Residents have expressed frustration over the malfunctioning vehicles, which were unable to respond to the sudden blackout.
The power outage was triggered by a fire that caused “significant and extensive” damage to a Pacific Gas & Electric substation, according to the company. Crews are currently working to restore power to around 21,000 residents still without electricity.
In a related development, Tesla CEO Elon Musk took to X to promote his company’s own robotaxi technology, stating, “Tesla Robotaxis were unaffected by the SF power outage.” This incident underscores the competitive landscape between Tesla and Waymo in the autonomous ride-hailing market, each employing distinct technologies for navigation.
Waymo, which is owned by Alphabet Inc., launched its robotaxi service in 2018 in the Phoenix metro area, expanding to other cities such as Austin and Atlanta. However, the company has faced challenges, including a recent software recall for over 1,200 vehicles following several collisions with stationary objects. Earlier this year, a Waymo vehicle was involved in an incident that resulted in the death of a beloved local cat, igniting public outrage.
As this situation develops, Waymo and city officials are working to restore service as swiftly as possible. The company has promised updates as they become available, but for now, commuters in San Francisco are grappling with the aftermath of the outage and the challenges posed by stalled robotaxis.
Residents are encouraged to stay tuned for further information on the power restoration and Waymo’s operational status, as this incident continues to unfold.
